Eric Adams Makes Another Bid for Taxpayer-Funded Campaign Cash

August 20, 2025

Far behind in the polls,

Mayor Eric Adams is once again taking the city’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB) to court—

after being denied more than $4 million in public matching funds

for his reelection campaign.

The board says the campaign still hasn’t explained

a long list of shady fundraising practices,

including donations flagged as part of a “straw donor” scheme

that already led to one guilty plea.

This is Adams’ second lawsuit against the CFB since May.

The first was thrown out by Brooklyn Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis,

who said the board had every right to reject Adams’ request

due to the campaign’s failure to hand over documents

they’ve been asking for since last fall.

The new case was filed last Friday in Brooklyn federal court.

It was first assigned to Chief Judge Margo Brodie,

but by Monday, it landed right back with Judge Garaufis.

The CFB declined to comment on the new lawsuit,

but they’re set to vote again on the campaign’s funding request in 10 days.

One recent development:

Erden Arkan, a Brooklyn contractor with ties to Turkey,

pleaded guilty to organizing illegal straw donations for Adams.

He’s now cooperating with the CFB.

The campaign says they’ve contacted 31 people

as part of the CFB’s request for more documentation.

In a recent filing, the campaign turned over a collection of text messages—

mostly between Adams’ top fundraiser, Brianna Suggs,

and mayoral aide Rana Abbasova.

His lawyers say the mayor has communications in his possession,

but can’t release them because they’re under a federal protective order

from a case that was dropped in April.

That case included allegations

that Adams personally coordinated with donors

linked to both the Turkish and Uzbek governments,

raising thousands in potentially illegal contributions

during his 2021 run for mayor.

And as Adams clings to courtroom drama

and his fading approval,

New Yorkers seem ready to move on.

In a recent poll:

Zohran Mamadani leads with 39%,

Andrew Cuomo follows with 21%,

Republican Curtis Sliwa is at 18%,

and Adams is trailing at just 9%.